Padres extend winning streak, stay near wild‑card

The San Diego Padres have kept their late‑season surge alive into 2026. After a mid‑July series win over Toronto and back‑to‑back victories over San Francisco in July 2025 – a 7‑0 shutout and a 6‑5 comeback capped by Jake Cronenworth’s ninth‑inning single – the club continued to collect clutch hits.

In early August 2026, Cronenworth delivered a walk‑off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth, lifting the Padres to a 6‑5 win over the Giants at Petco Park. The rally, sparked by a leadoff double from Xander Bogaerts and a two‑run double by Osleivis Basabe, preserved the Padres’ position just one game behind the National League wild‑card spot.

The momentum persisted on August 1, when Jackson Merrill launched a 422‑foot two‑run homer in the second inning, giving San Diego a 4‑0 lead over the visiting Giants. Jake Cronenworth added a two‑run single and Luis Campusano contributed an RBI single, while closer Adrian Morejon secured the save. Starter Michael King was scratched, and Kyle Hart opened the series with three scoreless innings. The win marked the Padres’ eighth victory in nine games, keeping them within a game of the wild‑card berth.

On August 2, the Padres again defeated the Giants, 5‑4. Merrill’s two‑run homer provided a 4‑0 lead, and Cronenworth’s two‑run single extended it. The bullpen, anchored by Griffin Canning and Morejon, held the lead, reinforcing the club’s push toward a postseason spot.